2015 Prado 150 GXL air bags

[stock2014gxl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stock2014gxl]

Hi

Anyone had good results with putting air bags in the stock rear suspension?

I tow a reasonably heavy boat and notice the rear drops a fair way, even with the tow bar down force way within limits.

[Brougham Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brougham]

2015 Prado 150 GXL air bags

Airbags are great, however I'd still be inclined to up the suspension, at least the rear springs to a heavier rate.

Do you tow often? If so, go the constant load option. Then you won't need airbags.

I have a very heavy Towball Jayco Outback, and I'm upping the suspension and then seeing if I need to install airbags for trim adjustment. I'd rather have both and only inflate them slightly than have them always at max pressure to get level.

I've got just airbags in our territory and they have to be overinflated to get the car back to (not even) level. Can be dangerous that way.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

Hi

Anyone had good results with putting air bags in the stock rear suspension?

I tow a reasonably heavy boat and notice the rear drops a fair way, even with the tow bar down force way within limits.

I have a 150 GXL Prado. I have dobinson springs and shocks with 40mm lift. I did try heavier rated springs but I found it too rough when I wasn't towing. So Ihave standard rate, 40mm lifted springs, but I have "airbagman" airbags in teh rear coils, with 5psi in them when unloaded (ie to stop them being pinched), and when I tow maximum weight and down force, (2,500kg and 250kgs downforce on the towball) I always inflate the airbags with about 20psi BEFORE I hitch up...and the airbags are perfect, car sits level, and when I don't tow, I let the air down to 5psi and I get a comfortable ride....works perfectly for me

[Brougham Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brougham]

2015 Prado 150 GXL air bags

What rating springs did you try? I was going to put in medium and use airbags, however my ARB manager (awesome guy) has talked me into fitting the 200kg constant load. He reckons there's no real noticeable different to stiffness, it's the 400kg springs that are stiff as hell.

The car goes in on Monday for the kit. At least they've told me if I hate it and take it back within a week they'll swap them down to mediums for free.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stock2014gxl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stock2014gxl]

Thanks for your comments, some good advice there. I will go ahead with the bags in the standard coils for now at least. Longer term plan would be a lift all around and I guess if that means new bags to fit the longer springs, so be it.

Where did you mount the inflation valves? or did you go the full hog and do on-board compressor and valve switch gear in the cabin?

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

I mounted my valves just under the bumper beside the towbar easy to get to, also have a 2" lift with Firestone airbags and medium rate springs. Ride at 5lbs with no load (OME Nitrocharger Sports shock) around town is great, better than standard as less body roll, fully loaded with the camping gear and two adults I put 12lbs in the bags. Another hint is that electric compressors tend to pump the bags up too quickly, I use a bike pump.

See ya on the tracks, Richo.

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

What rating springs did you try? I was going to put in medium and use airbags, however my ARB manager (awesome guy) has talked me into fitting the 200kg constant load. He reckons there's no real noticeable different to stiffness, it's the 400kg springs that are stiff as hell.

The car goes in on Monday for the kit. At least they've told me if I hate it and take it back within a week they'll swap them down to mediums for free.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The best thing is to try the springs like they have offered. I found that the 200kg constant load springs had the car sitting up way too high when the car was unladen, and I almost ended up in the spinal injury unit when going over speed bumps...but give it a try, if its too high or too hard then go back and get them changed...that's what I did

[Brougham Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brougham]

It does ride a tad high, about 70mm lift in the back unloaded. However the ride is fine, not harsh at all and definitely not doing anything different over speed bumps, even at speed.

You sure you had the 200kg springs and not the 400kg springs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stevep84 Find all posts View Profile Close stevep84]

I had Polyairs put in after we picked up our camper and they work brilliantly, they stopped the sagging and bouncing of the back end. I don't tow it too often so I went with that rather than new springs. I have found they only needed 18-20psi.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I have had endless problems with leaks in the hoses and connections for my air bags. Finally filled them up with some green goo which fixed the problem.